Parachute pack closing device



April 10, 1962 F. D- BOENSCH PARACHUTE PACK CLOSING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 1, 1960 FRANK D. BOENSCH ATTORNEYS April 10, 1962 F. D. BOENSCH 3,029,050

PARACHUTE PACK CLOSING DEVICE Filed April 1, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FRANK D. BOENSCH BY WW ATTORN'EYS United States Patent Ofiice 3,029,050 Patented Apr. 10, 1962 3,029,050 PARACHUTE PACK CLOSING DEVICE Frank D. Boensch, Bellbrook, Ohio, assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force Filed Apr. 1, 1960, Ser. No. 19,430 12 Claims. (Cl. 244-148) (Granted under Title 35, US. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the United States Government for governmental purposes without payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to parachutes and more particularly to parachute packs and improved flap closing and release or deployment means for the parachute packs and pertains to parachute packs of thetype generally shown in United States patent to C. E. Carroll, No. 2,711,869, in which a back or bottom panel is provided, having opposite side and end flaps disposed to overlap each other with the parachute canopy folded or packed therein, wherein the flaps have registering eyelets or grommets through which endless tapes or woven strips of webbing pass, having loops at both ends, these strips or loops passing through suitable eyelets in the back or bottom panel and between the folds of the parachute canopy in the pack, and out through the registering or aligned eyelets or grommet openings in the overlapping ends of the flaps, with the rip cord pull pins extending across the outer eyelets at the outer or front side of the pack, the other looped ends of the tapes being retained from withdrawal by other pins or a rod outside of the bottom or back panel of the pack.

When the rip cord is pulled the pull pins are withdrawn from the loops and the flaps are free to open and free the parachute for deployment. Formerly heavy coil springs were required on the flaps so as to completely pull the tapes through all the grommets in order that the pilot parachute would be positively released.

An object of this invention is to provide releasable retainer means which extends through the overlapping grommets in the main canopy retaining flaps and through the pilot parachute retaining fiap, and through the folds of the main canopy when folded therein, and through the back or bottom of the pack, which is releasable by pull pins located at the bottom or outside of the back of the pack, in which the flap retaining means automatically releases all of the flaps at the same time, from the bottom or back panel of the pack.

A further object is the provision of releasable flap retaining means for holding the flaps closed which dispenses with the necessity of spring means on the flap for withdrawing the retaining means out of the grommets in the flaps.

A further object is the provision of an improved releasable flap retaining means whereby the pilot parachute is freed at the instant the pull pins are withdrawn by the rip cord.

A further object is an improved pack closure retaining and release means in which the rip cord pull means are disposed at the bottom of the pack and release thereof automatically instantly frees the pilot parachute, opens the pack, and frees the main canopy in a simple positive manner.

A further object is the provision of a release device in which all of the load is kept off of the rip cord pull pins, whereby the device is especially adaptable to automatic release means.

A further object is the provision of a device which provides easier and faster means for packing the chute in the pack.

'- A further object is the provision of a positive release device for parachute packs which releases from both ends simultaneously and is adapted to fall away with the parachute canopy, rather than be retained with the pack.

A still further object is the provision of a parachute pack flap securing and release device which permits the packing of the chute in the pack and closing thereof Without special tools or accessories, providing an easier method of packing, in which the device is a smooth rigid releasable connecting member which allows the fiap grommets to slip over the device during packing or deployment without danger of fouling. v

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts in the several figures.

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary somewhat diagrammatic vertical section through a parachute pack showing my improved flap release device incorporated therein;

' FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken about on the plane indicated by line 2-2 in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the device immediately after release;

, FIGURE 4 is a side elevation of the device, showing the same cocked just prior to insertion into the grommets provided therefor in the back of the pack;

' FIGURE 5 is a cocking tool employed for setting or cocking the device, as seen in FIGURE 4, prior to insertion in the pack and insertion of the rip cord pull pins; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the back of a parachute pack employing my improved device, more particularly showing the rip cord retaining or inclosure flaps in unzipped relation.

In the drawings the reference numeral 1 denotes the back or bottom portion of a parachute pack employing my improved-flap retaining and release device while the numeral 2 indicates the upper or' outer front side of the pack. More specifically, the pack includes a back panel 3 and a zipper inclosure 4 for inclosing, or replacing the rip cords 5, while 6 indicates the rip cord pull pins and 7 a pull cord connection from an automatic release mechanism (not shown, which forms no part of the invention, but is well known and may be set to pull this cord 7 and release the parachute at any desired altitude or after a predetermined time).

The main parachute canopy is indicated at 8, is packed or folded, placed on the back panel and inclosed by the side flaps 9 and 10 having overlapping superimposed grommets 9 and 10 and the end flaps 11 and 12 having grommets 11 and 12 As seen in FIGURES 1 and 6 the side flaps 9 and 10 have pilot chute pockets or pilot chute retainer flaps for the pilot parachute 13. These flaps overlap and are indicated at 14 and 15, the flaps l4 and 15 also having suitable grommet openings 14 and 15 aligned with the grommet openings 9 and 10* when the chutes are properly packed-therein.

My improved release device is best seen in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 and comprises an outer elongated tubular member 16 and an inner release detent plunger or slidable locking bar 16 reciprocatable in the member 16. The outer tubular member 16 has a solid outer portion 17 somewhat semicircular in cross section having a rounded nose 18 with a flat inner surface 19 provided with a retainer pin receiving notch or detent 20 having a forwardly inclined surface 21. An annular stop flange 22 is provided adjacent the opposite or rear end of the outer tubular member 16 as shown in the drawings. The rear end of the inner solid portion 17 is provided with a spring seat abutment 23 and at the rear end of the tubular member 16 is provided with a cross bar or movement limiting abutment 24 for limiting inward movement or retraction of the slidable bar or retainer pin release member 16. At the rear end portion of the tubular member 16, adjacent the flange 22 is provided a transverse rip cord pull pin receiving aperture or apertures 25 for the pull pins flap locking pins 6 attached to the rip cord 5. The plunger bar or locking detent 16 comprises an elongated bar member having a cross sectional shape to slidably fit the longitudinal opening in the tubular member 16 adjacent the flat portion 19 of the solid portion 17 and has a cornplementary nose portion 26, while the other or rear end of the detent bar 16 has a laterally extending spring seat or abutment 27, this lateral extension or abutment 27 with the 16 being circular in cross section to slidably fit the cylindrical inner bore of the outer tubular member 16 between the abutment 23 and the cross bar or stop member 24 at the inner or rear end of the device, while the flat surface 28 slidably engages the flat surface 19 of the solid portion 17, permitting free sliding movement of the locking bar 16 from a locking position over the detent recess 2021 as shown in FIGURES 2 and 4. The nose portion 26 of the locking detent 16 and the outer or nose end of the rigid outer tube are provided with the registering apertures 30 and 31 for receiving a temporary locking pin 32 when the device is preliminarily cocked prior to insertion through the aperture 3 in the back panel 3 of the parachute pack.

A compression coil spring 33 is, of course, interposed between the abutment 23 of the outer rigid connector tube 16 and the lateral abutment 27 of the locking detent bar 16 to retract the locking detent bar 16 back into the rigid outer tube against the stop bar 24, retracting the locking bar nose portion 26 out from its forward retaining position in front of the detent notch 20.

In order to pack and close a parachute pack employing my improved release device, as shown in FIGURE 1, the pack is first spread open. The device is then cocked. This may be accomplished by inserting a pusher instrument, for instance the bifurcated stem 35 of the rod 36, as shown in FIGURE into the rear or inner end of the outer tube 16 and against the abutment 27 to push the locking bar 16 forwardly against the tension of the spring 33 until the passages 30 and 31 line up, after which the temporary locking pin 32 is inserted therein.

The cocking rod or instrument 36 can now be removed and the rear ends of the tubular connectors are inserted in the spaced grommets 3 in the back panel of the pack up to the flanges 22. Next the rip cord pull pins 6 are inserted through the openings 25 and the temporary pins 32 are removed. The zipper closure 4 can now be zipped up," thus leaving the tubular member 16 connected to the back panel 3 with the flange 22 resting against the grommets 3 in the rear panel 3 of the pack.

The folded parachute 8 is now placed on the back panel 3 with the flap release members 16 extending vertically upward between the folds. If desired suitable loose fabric sleeves or protectors 34 may be provided to keep the fabric of the parachute off of the members 16.

The two end flaps 11 and 12 are now brought around the folded main chute 8 and the grommets 11 and 12 placed over the projecting ends or nose portions 18, 26 of the device and pressed down or inwardly. Next the two side flaps 9 and are brought around the sides of the folded chute 8 and the grommets 9 and 10 therein forced down over the projecting nose portions or ends of the tubular connecting member 16 and the locking bar 16*, and down. The pilot chute 13 is now folded and placed in its pocket back of the main pack flaps formed by the overlapping pilot chute flaps 14 and and the grommets 14 and 15 in the overlapping edges of these two flaps 14 and 15 are placed over the projecting nose portion of the device and pressed downwardly, after which the retainer or hold down pins 35 are inserted in the notches with the ends of these pins projecting over the opposite sides of the uppermost grommets 14*, thus retaining all of the grommets of the side and flaps, and those of the pilot chute flaps, on the smooth rigid tubular posts or locking devices of the present invention and any downward holding pressure on the grommets can be released as the chute is fully packed. Usually a zipper type closure 36, as seen in FIGURE 6, is provided on the uppermost pilot chute flap 14 and this is zipped closed to protect the holddown pins 35 against accidental displacement during the handling and use of the chute.

It will be observed that this arrangement provides a smooth outer surface for the back of the pack as the rip cord tubes and connections are all disposed outside of the pack, next to the wearer. Also when the holddown pins 35 are released the smooth rigid tubular members provide a smooth, quick, and easy unrestricted release action of the flaps as the grommets are displaced, for instance by the expansion of the folded parachute and pilot chute.

When the pack is worn and it is desired to release the chute the rip cord pull pins 6 are pulled out of the openings 25. This releases the plungers or locking detents 16 and the springs 33 retracts the same into the tubular members 16, retracting the exposed nose portion 26 back from its retaining position over the notch 20 and the holddown pins 35, after which these pins slide down the outwardly inclined surface 21 and free the grommets 14, 15 10 and 9 instantly in this order, the pilot chute 13 springing open and the main chute 8 being released from the pack. Since the pull pins 6, which are, of course, connected to the rip cord 5, which is or may be connected to the conventional automatic deployment device (not shown) are withdrawn out of the openings 25 at the rear ends of the tubular connectors 16, these tubes are released from the back panel and may move out of the grommets 3- in the back panel of the pack and are free to fall away with the main chute 8. Thus a front and rear release action at both ends of the device occurs substantially simultaneously.

Of course, if desired the rear ends of the tubing connector members 16 could easily be made to retain the devices connected to the back panel of the pack instead of being released from the pack, simply by providing an abutment detent at the inner or rear end of each tubular connector member 16 for instance at or about the location of the stop pins 24 which would not easily pass through the back panel grommet 3 Obviously, modifications and slight variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than that as specifically shown and described.

I claim:

1. In a parachute deployment pack and release means therefor, a substantially rectangular back panel, main parachute inclosing side and end flaps extending from the opposite sides and ends of said back panel for inclosing a folded parachute therebetween with the free end portions of said side and end flaps disposed in overlapping relation, a pair of pilot parachute inclosure flaps carried by side flaps intermediate the free ends thereof and said back panel, extending toward each other with the free ends thereof disposed in overlapping superimposed relation to the overlapping free ends of said side and end flaps, said overlapping free ends of said side and end flaps and said pilot parachute flaps having aligned grommet openings therethrough, rigid elongated tubular flap retainer means for said flaps connected to said back panel in aligned relation to said grommet openings and extending forwardly through said grommet openings beyond the uppermost pilot chute flap, flap retainer pin means releasably carried by the outer ends of said tubular flap retainer means extending over the uppermost pilot chute flap at opposite sides of the grommet opening therein for releasably retaining said overlapping ends of all of said flaps in said overlapping relation, axially movable release means extending through said tubular flap retainer means for releasing said flap retainer pin means to free all of said flaps substantially simultaneously from said rigid elongated tubular flap retainer means for releasing a pilot chute retained by said pilot chute inclosure flaps and a main parachute inclosed on said back panel by said side and end flaps, and rip cord actuated release means connected between said tubular retainer means and said movable release means for effecting movement of said movable release means to its release position to release said flap retainer pin means to free the overlapping ends of said flaps to release and deploy said pilot parafor inclosing a folded main parachute therein disposed on said back panel with the free ends of said end and side flaps disposed in superimposed overlapping relation, aligned grommet openings disposed in said superimposed overlapping free ends, a pilot chute fiap secured to the exterior of each of the side flaps between the back panel and the overlapping ends thereof, said pilot chute flaps extending toward each other with the free ends thereof disposed in superimposed overlapping relation to the aforesaid fiap ends, said pilot chute flap free ends having grommet openings therethrough in alignment with the aforesaid grommet openings in said end and side flaps, said back panel having grommet openings therein aligned with the aforesaid aligned grommet openings, a rigid tubular flap connecting release member loosely disposed in said aligned grommet openings having a front end projecting a through said aligned grommet openings in said overlapping ends of said end and side flaps and said pilot chute flaps, and having its rear end extending through an aligned grommet opening in said back panel, adapted to extend through said folds of the folded main parachute,

said tubular connecting member having a fiap retainer pin receiving notch in its forward end inclining outwardly, and a transverse rip cord pull pin receiving aperture in its rear end, a flap retainer release pin seated in said notch and extending beyond the sides of the grommet openings locking bar to withdraw said retaining portion from said notch to free said flap retainer pin, said locking bar having a rear abutment thereon disposed in engagement with said rip cord pull pin for'holding said locking bar in its forward pin retaining position, whereby withdrawal of said rip cord pull pin releases said locking bar for retraction thereof from its retaining position over said retainer pin in said notch under action of said spring means.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which the withdrawal of the rip cord pull pin simultaneously frees both ends of the tubular connecting member from said grommet openings, releasing both ends of said tubular connecting member from all connection with said parachute deployment pack. I

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 including movement limiting detent means on said tubular connecting member for limiting said amount of the retraction movement of said locking bar in said tubular member by influence of said spring means.

5. A parachute pack deployment device of the class described comprising, an elongated tubular connecting memher having a forward nose portion and a rear end portion, said forward nose portion having an internal detent bar guide surface therein and having a spring seat abutment shoulder facing said rear end portion, and formed at said nose portion in said guide surface with a holddown pin receiving notch having an inclined release surface extending forwardly and outwardly toward said nose portion and said guide surface, an elongated release detent bar slideably disposed in said tubular connecting member on said guide surface having a nose end portion disposed to cover said notch for retaining a holddown pin therein and retractable to uncover said notch and release the holddown pin from said notch, said detent bar extending toward the rear end portion of said tubular member and terminating in a spring seat adjacent said rear end portion facing forwardly toward the aforesaid spring seat abutment shoulder, a compression spring disposed in said tubular connecting member between said spring seat abutment shoulder and spring seat for retracting said detent bar toward said rear end, said tubular connecting member having a rip cord pull pin receiving aperture therein adjacent its rear disposed to receive a rip cord pull pin therein in the path of retraction of said detent locking bar for releasably holding said release locking bar over said notch to retain a holddown pin in said notch, whereby when the rip cord pull pin is withdrawn from said aperture the detent bar is released for retraction by said compression spring to retract said detent bar and release a holddown pin when disposed in said notch.

6. In combination, a parachute pack having a back panel, side and end'flaps extending from the opposite sides and ends of the back panel and foldable over a parachute folded and placed on said back panel to dispose the free ends of said flaps in overlapping relation inclosing the parachute, said free ends'having grommet openings therein disposed in aligned relation when said flap ends are drawn around a folded parachute on said back panel to inclose said folded parachute therein, elongated tubular flap retaining means extending forwardly from said back panel through the folds of a parachute when inclosed in said pack and through said aligned grommet openings in said flaps to the outside of said pack, releasable flap retaining means carried on the outer ends of said elongated tubular flap retaining means for engagingsaid grommets to retain said flaps in said overlapping parachute inclosing relation, and rip cord release means disposed outside of the back panel and connected to the opposite end of each of said elongated tubular flap retaining means for releasing said releasable flap retaining means to release said grommets to free said flaps for deployment of a parachute when folded in said pack and inclosed by said side and end flaps.

7. In combination, a parachute pack having a back panel, side and end closure flaps extending from opposite sides and ends of said back panel, foldable over a folded parachute when disposed on said back panel to dispose the free ends of said flaps in overlapping relation, said flap free ends having apertures therethrough disposed for superimposed aligned relation when said flaps are in said overlapping relation with a folded parachute disposed on said back panel and inclosed'by said side and end flaps, elongated tubular closure flap connecting means connected to said back panel and forwardly through said aligned apertures for retaining said flaps in said overlapping relation, including releasable closure flap retaining means carried by the outer ends of said elongated closureflap connecting means extending over said flap ends at opposite sides of said apertures for retaining said flap ends in said superimposed relation, and release means for said'closure flap retaining means at the other ends of said elongated tubular connecting means connected for releasing said closure flap retaining means to free the ends of said end and side closure flaps for simultaneous opening moveand said back panel.

8; In combination, a parachute pack having a back panel, side and end closure flaps extending from the opposite sides and ends of said back panel having free ends extending toward each other to dispose the ends of said closure fiaps in superimposed overlapping relation in front of the back panel, said free ends of said flaps having superimposed aligned apertures formed therein normal to the back panel when said closure flaps are in said overlapping relation, an elongated cylindrical rigid release device connected at its rear end to said back panel and extending forwardly through said aligned apertures, flap release means releasably carried by the forward end thereof extending across the uppermost of said aligned apertures for engaging the uppermost of said overlapping flaps for releasably retaining said flaps in said overlapping reiation, and rip cord operated release means connected to the rear end of said elongated release device for releasing said flap release means to release said flaps and permit the movement of said flap ends outwardly off of said release device to release a parachute inclosed between said flaps and said back panel.

9. A parachute pack deployment device of the class described comprising, an elongated rigid tubular connecting member having a forward smooth nose portion and a rear end portion, said forward nose portion having internal release detent bar guide passage therethrough having a guide surface terminating in a transverse spring abutment shoulder facing said rear end portion and formed at said nose portion in said guidesurface with a transverse holddown pin receiving notch having an inclined holddown pin release surface inclining outwardly and forwardly toward the outer end of said nose portion, an elongated rigid holddown pin release detent bar reciprocatably disposed in said tubular connecting member on, said detent bar guide surface having a substantially complemental outer nose end portion to the aforesaid nose portion disposed to cover said holddown pin receiving notch when in a forward position for retaining a holddown pin in said notch and retractable to a rear position to uncover said notch and release said holddown pin from said notch, said detent bar extending rearwardly in said guide passage through said tubular connecting member toward said rear end portion, spring seat abutment means on said release detent bar adjacent the rear end thereof facing forwardly toward the first sping abutment means in rearwardly spaced relation thereto, compression spring means in said tubular connecting member between said spring seat and said spring abutment means for retracting said release detent bar to uncover said notch and free the holddown pin therefrom, stop means at the rear end of tubular connecting member for limiting the retraction of said detent bar in said tubular connecting member, said complemental nose portions of said tubular connecting member and said detent member having transverse openings therein disposed for alignment when said release detent bar is moved to its forward nonretracted relation for receiving a temporary locking pin therethrough for temporarily retaining said detent bar in its forward position, the rear end portion of said tubular connecting member having a rip cord pull pin receiving aperture extending transversely therethrough rearwardly of said spring seat abutment means thereon and forward of said stop means when said detent release bar is in its forward looking position for receiving a rip cord pull pin therethrough for holding said detent bar in its foward locking position when the temporary locking pin is removed, and stop means projecting from the outer surface of the rear end of said tubular connecting member and spaced forwardly from said rip cord pull pin aperture for limiting the amount of insertion of the rear end portion of said connecting member through a grommet opening in the back panel of a parachute pack toward the back of a wearer, whereby the rip cord pull pin is insertable in said rip cord pull pin apertures between the exterior of the back panel of a parachute pack and the back of a wearer.

10. A parachute pack deployment device of the class described comprising, an elongated cylindrical connecting member having a. forward nose portion and a rear end portion, said forward nose portion having semicylindrical detent bar guide means formed therein, spring abutment means adjacent said forward nose portion facing said rear end portion, holddown pin retaining notch formed on said nose portion inclining outwardly and downwardly and toward said guide means for releasably holding a parachute pack flap holddown pin in said elongated cylindrical connecting member adjacent said forward nose portion, elongated release detent bar means axially shiftable in said cylindrical connecting member in said detent bar guide means having an outer nose end portion disposed across said holddown pin retaining notch means to retain a parachute flap holddown pin in said holddown pin retaining notch means, said elongated release detent means being retractable into said elongated cylindrical connecting member to uncover said notch to release the holddown pin from said holddown pin retaining notch, said elongated release detent bar means terminating in a spring seat adjacent its rear end facing forwardly toward said spring abutment means, resilient retracting spring means for said detent bar means compressed between said spring seat and said spring abutment means for retracting said elongated release detent bar to uncover said holddown pin retaining notch and release the holddown pin from said holddown pin retaining notch, a transverse rip cord pull pin receiving aperture means formed in said elongated cylindrical connecting member adjacent said rear end portion thereof for receiving and disposing a rip cord pull pin in said pull pin receiving apertures in the path of retraction of said elongated release detent bar means when the elongated release detent bar means is in non-retracted position, whereby when the rip cord pull pin is withdrawn, said elongated release detent bar means is released for retraction and said resilient retracting spring means retracts said elongated release detent bar means to uncover said holddown pin retaining notch to release the holddown pin from said notch retaining means.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which said nose portion of said elongated connecting member and said elongated detent bar means are formed with temporary holding means comprising an aligned aperture to receive a temporary holding pin temporarily holding said detent bar means in non-retracted position in said cylindrical connecting member independently of the rip cord pull pin.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11, including abutment means disposed in said cylindrical connecting member between the inner end of said connecting member and said elongated release detent bar means for limiting the degree of retraction of said detent bar means in said cylindrical connecting member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 601,669 McIlyar Apr. 5, 1898 1,631,767 Russell June 7, 1927 1,787,318 Matthews Dec. 30, 1930 2,124,276 Steigenberger July 19, 1938 2,179,506 Jahant Nov. 14, 1939 2,300,428 Manson et al. Nov. 3, 1942 2,711,869 Carroll June 28, 1955 2,931,088 Trager Apr. 5, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 7,097 Great Britain 1896 591,340 Great Britain Aug. 14, 1947 

